LENNIE Lawrence has told his players: "There's a big game coming up - and it's not Portsmouth!"

Cardiff City manager Lawrence has told his team to forget their Carling Cup tie against Premiership Portsmouth and focus solely on Rotherham United away on Saturday.

The south Yorkshire club are still without a Coca-Cola Championship win this season.

And Lawrence said: "If we win at Rotherham the phrase 'relegation battle' will not be heard around Ninian Park again this season.

"If we lose then we'll be back in the mire. Rotherham are going to win one sooner or later and I hope it's against Nottingham Forest tonight.

"I can't see Rotherham winning two in a row.

"We have to be certain it's not us Rotherham win against. If we lose against them things will go as flat as a pancake."

Lawrence gave a broad hint he will select an unchanged team for the trip to Rotherham, which means Tony Vidmar will have to make do with a place among the substitutes, despite completing a two-match ban.

"I'm not clever enough to rotate too many players and it would be harsh to leave anybody out," said Lawrence.

"James Collins had a poor start to the season, but he looks a player now. He is strong mentally and physically.

"He has played well in the last two games and it would be daft to leave anybody out."

Lawrence rates the win against West Ham United in the top 10 of performances since he took over, saying: "If we had kept a clean sheet it would have been top five.

"It was one hell of a run by Marlon Harewood, but my initial reaction to Kav's challenge was that he got the ball. There is a doubt in my mind as to whether it was a penalty."

Meanwhile, Icelandic international Gylfi Einarsson will sign for Cardiff City or Leeds United.

Midfielder Einarsson, 26, flew straight to Britain after completing the Norwegian League season with Lillestrom last weekend.

He watched Cardiff City's 4-1 destruction of West Ham United last night and travelled to Yorkshire today.